Ajit Karn
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the states and union territories to issue ration cards to migrant workers registered on the ‘e-shram’ government portal within three months so that they can receive benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
A bench composed of Justices MR Shah and Ahsanuddin Amanullah ruled that the issuance of ration cards to migrant workers registered on the portal should receive extensive publicity.
“We grant concerned States and Union Territories an additional three months to issue ration cards and register migrants on the portal. Concerned authorities must notify Collectors so that more and more individuals can take advantage of NFSA benefits,” the bench stated in its order and set the next hearing for October 3, 2024.
The apex court’s ruling was in response to a petition filed by Anjali Bhardwaj, Harsh Mander, and Jagdeep Chhokkar, who requested that ration be provided to migrant laborers regardless of the NFSA’s ration quota.
The apex court ruled on April 17 that the Centre and State governments cannot deny ration cards to migrant workers solely on the basis that the population ratio under the NFSA has not been maintained correctly.
It had observed that every citizen should benefit from welfare programs and stated that in a welfare state, it is the government’s responsibility to reach out to individuals.
In February of this year, the apex court asked the Centre and all state governments to provide information on the number of migrant workers receiving food under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other benefits under various government schemes, after being informed that out of nearly 38 crore migrant workers across the country, approximately 28 crores have registered on an online portal operated by the Centre called e-Shram.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court initiated a case suo moto to examine the problems and miseries faced by migrant labourers and unorganized sector workers who were compelled to settle in their villages with no source of employment due to the pandemic-induced lockdown.
